Full Service Wash Pricing: How much?

[Soarer5]

Wow David, what a neighborhood! These guys are paying more in property tax than the cost of a home in a new subdivision down the street from me LoL. Based on the location you will accomplish your goal of 50 cars in due time. Heck you already have 10 down. For these discerning owners where cost means nothing, $5k a year is like me spending $20.



Do you happen to service the neighbors down the street?



974 South Ocean Blvd, Palm Beach, FL: Main House



1415 South Ocean Blvd, Palm Beach, FL

[imported_Detailing Technology]

pipe dream...



way to linear.





Need to add in the variables.



People wont sign, weather wont cooperate, employee issues.



Set that up thinking you will generate 50% of the revenue and everything will be a surprise.

[Scottwax]

Need to add in the variables.



People wont sign, weather wont cooperate, employee issues.



Set that up thinking you will generate 50% of the revenue and everything will be a surprise.

I agree. My Thursday morning weekly wash customer (2 cars, $100) would pay me $5100 a year (two weeks of vacation and the typical $100 Christmas tip), however due to the rain this year that always seems to occur between Thursday and Sunday, I`m on pace to make about $2000 from his cars this year.



If there is rain in the forecast a day after a person`s scheduled wash, they usually cancel if the car is a daily driver. Doesn`t make sense spending $40-60 for a wash if it gets dirty the next day. Garage queens typically don`t need weekly cleaning, so they aren`t a reliable income source for weekly plans either.



Unfortunately, until we can get nature to cooperate with us and only rain on from 11 PM Sunday night until 3 AM Monday morning, the weather will always been an issue for us, no matter how well we plan ahead.

[MarcHarris]

Great point Scott, and I think that may be the biggest issue: Weather in Florida. I think David can counter this problem perfectly by limiting the amount of clients that this is available to, but there isn`t a perfect system.

Most of our clients in this first year of building have been big enthusiasts that want their car revived, and then they can maintain from there until the Spring. I have one client however, that wants her beautiful car washed once a week. I`ve worked out a plan for her, and I`ve left two buckets, grit guards, a nozzle, shampoo, etc at her location so that set-up and take down are super fast. I only bring towels and QD and I`m in and out in 30-40 mins.

All in all, David I think you know even better than I how great loyal dedicated clients are. If a client does want such a service, you could even charge a "start-up free" to cover extra buckets / grit guards / etc that you could leave at the client`s home. I find time to be a huge factor in smaller jobs like this. Saving 10 minutes in set-up / take-down on a 30 minute wash is like saving 2-3 hours on a 9 hour detail. It adds up over time.



Take into account it`ll still matter on how well the car is maintained. The client I speak of has a "daily driver" that is barely driven because she works out of her home. It sits in the garage for at least 18-22 hours a day. Sealant/wax lasts forever on it (stays slick and slippery), and doesn`t get dirty much.

[brwill2005]

Yes, weather amongst other things do factor in when customers are on a set wash schedule. Luckily most of mine will even allow me to wash in their garage if it is raining. I guess the point is if it is supposed to be 26 times a year, it will only be around 20 times at the end of the day. One more reason why I want to get a physical location.

[imported_Detailing Technology]

This all might be blatantly obvious but:





Paying for overhead. That turns the $230k to less than $100k after tax, insurance, equipment, supplies, gas, phones, etc.



How do you retire? Now that "less than $100k" number is 10-15% LESS...



What happens when you get injured or sick? Now that $$$ is even LESS...



Can you still do this at 50-60 years old?



Without signed and enforcable contracts, this business is worth zero. You can never sell this for anything worth taking.



Where do you go from here?







Tough road gents. Enjoy the journey.

[David Fermani]

jeteast99, Barry, Bryan – Thanks for the faith & support. Much appreciated! So far I have 8 vehicles set up for weekly(weekend) service and each client mentioned several more that are expressing very positive feedback.



bwalker25 - Thanks for taking the time to crunch those numbers. Although I’ve become accustomed to having 6 weeks of PTO for the last 5+ years, I worked 10 years prior to that without really having much of one. It goes hand in hand with running a business I guess. Hopefully with this plan I’ll be able to “let things go� and try fitting one in.





MuttGrunt - Yeah, most of these cars will get washed weekly, but I’d venture to consider certain bi-weekly clients too. I’d venture to say setup for this process should only take a couple minutes. Tap into water, electric, start mixing & pull up cars. On really hot, sunny days probably put up a canopy/tent. I seriously doubt I’ll take too many single car accounts. There’s gonna have to be a 2-3 car minimum unless I’m doing a neighbor’s collection too. Imagine if your client had 3 cars and you were able to charge $100 per car. Not bad $$ for a couple hours. Thanks man.



brwill2005 -I’d venture to say that comparing the “income� in Loudoun County to the “wealth� of people living in S. Florida is totally different. There’s so many extremely wealthy retirees, trust funders, foreigners, 2nd/3rd/4th home dwellers that aren’t considered in income rating statistics here that it’s really no comparison. There’s so many exotic, luxury and high-end cars down here that I become numb to it. The rain doesn’t stop them from coming out either, because it rains with full sunlight. There really aren’t too many all day “rain days�. A car barely spots after a rainstorm. Lowering prices in this market to gain market share isn’t required. I believe in establishing quality to justify a good price instead of lowering it to take on more volume for this application. Regardless, what works for someone is dependent to their area, demographics and competition. Fortunately (for now), I feel blessed to be in such an area that commanding top dollar for quality isn’t super challenging.





Jdoria – I’d love to see your calculation breakdown. I’d say their way off for this application. Based on Bradford’s (brwill2005) max income potential ($40 per hour) of $83,000/yr. After you take out your overhead % its $37,000. Really? :think:



Client Contracts (or lack of) really aren`t too important for the sale of a detailing business. Believe me I know 1st hand. I actually had multiple offers on my business and sold for above my asking price. And no contracts either. You’d be amazed at the selling price too. That in itself created a nice little nest egg towards my retirement as well as my kids college fund.

[David Fermani]

Back to my original question - How much is everyone charging for full service car washes? Anyone able to get $75 or more?

[imported_Jakerooni]

For just a wash and some spray wax??? Not even half that dave.. About $30-$35 tops for what you`re listing to do there. Which really isn`t much anyways compared to other services..

[drifts500]

These are my packages





1. Simple Car Wash $20 up 1 Hour (Two bucket Method)

A. Wash and Dry

B. Window cleaning

C. Wheel cleaning & Dress up

D. Vacuum interior

E. Interior wipe down



2. Basic Car Wash - $50

A. Vacuum interior

B. Clean all interior trims with quick interior detailer

C. Protect trims with 303 Protectant

D. Clean wheels and tires

E. Foam wash

F. Wax (Meg`s Gold Class)

G. Clean All windows

H. Tire Dress up



3. Premium Car wash - $120

A. Basic Car Wash included

B. Two stage wax (Glaze and Wax)

C. Floor Carpets shampoo

D. Wheel Wax (PB`s World)

E. Clay Treatment

F. Detailed Interior Cleaning (APC and 303)



4. Full Interior Package - $75

A. Carpet Shampoo cleaning (Wet/dry Vac)

B. Leather Conditioner

C. Leather Seat cleaning (Cloth seat + $70 up)

D. Trim cleaning

E. Window cleaning

F. Restore trims

G. Roof Cleaning (Headliner?)

H. Upholstery shampoo



I do these for only my friends



I am not sure if prices are cheap or high. Please adjust any prices if are not fair.

IMO, regular car wash and basic car wash are cheap.

[MichaelM]

Back to my original question - How much is everyone charging for full service car washes? Anyone able to get $75 or more?

I think that is a pretty obvious "no". Even if someone can "get it", I doubt they can get it enough to make a living or have a real business with it.



I would imagine that there are a very limited number of financially qualified and interested customers willing to spend that much money on wash services in the entire country. You seem to be in one such area. Make it happen!

[Envious Eric]

drifts, your pricing is extremely low! $50 for a wash and wax - thats tunnel wash pricing! bump it up! seems like you are working for $20/hr, way too low!

[imported_Detailing Technology]

Jdoria – I’d love to see your calculation breakdown. I’d say their way off for this application. Based on Bradford’s (brwill2005) max income potential ($40 per hour) of $83,000/yr. After you take out your overhead % its $37,000. Really? :think:



Client Contracts (or lack of) really aren`t too important for the sale of a detailing business. Believe me I know 1st hand. I actually had multiple offers on my business and sold for above my asking price. And no contracts either. You’d be amazed at the selling price too. That in itself created a nice little nest egg towards my retirement as well as my kids college fund.

I dont know that bwill info. I was talking about your original numbers.



Based on an annual gross of $230k.



Pay overhead - Lets be conservative - $70k (keep in mind you have not paid yourself yet, just that 1 worker $35k)



Pay fed/state tax - leaves you with +/- $110k



Pay yourself, your tax, retirement and its a wrap!



What are you walking home with? $1,200-1,400 week with no medical or life insurance?







A mobile car wahsing business is next to worhtless with no contracts. There may be some depreciated equipment value, and some dollar values paid based on the annual sales recipts. If the mobile business reported $230k in sales every year for 3+ years to the Fed without any contracts, you could certainly put a sale number on it.



Caveat Emptor...

The big upside here is the next to no start up costs. But that hurts you on the resale as their is no propietry chemicals, process, or equipment to put a dollar vlaue on. Anyone can go out and start one of thesee businesses for a few bucks. Why buy yours? Wahts going to make all of your clients come to me? How do I know you arent going to solicit the prime clients and keep detailing? Thats where signed contracts come into play. Non-competes are tough to enforce, especially in a business where cash can exchange hands.



The business is attractive at an annual gross of $400k with no partners and a 40% overhead. But I still havent seen how to do that. The volume of human labor and clients required to pump $400k into a machine like this is qutie large, even at $500 per car.



A fixed site with bank statemetns and tax returns are different animal. A value can be placed and negotiated on it wiht many variables a mobile does not have.



Luckily there are 60 people born every hour to sell something to. I wouldnt get to hung up on the details, just get the thing launched.

[drifts500]

toyotaguy I know, but do not know the fair price. What is the fair price for my plans? I did free car wash to some friends and my family (definately) to see they like it or not. Result was good and they loved it.



Maybe Simple car wash for $25 (since I do it for my friends) and basic car wash for $70? and Premium car wash for $140?



Like I said, I do car washes for my friends and relatives. So Price should be low plus I want to get some experiences

[brwill2005]

David, your assumption about Loudoun County is a bit wrong. We are about 50 miles or less outside of Washington D.C. Lots of politicians, CEO`s, athletes, celebrities etc. I was just illustrating that wealth does not mean a person will spend thousands per year to maintain its appearance. My whole point about pricing was to illustrate the potential of an efficient fixed location shop; but you already know about that. Anyways good luck if you decide to do it.